Washing machines, dishwashers and toilets can use a lot of water. Consumer Reports recently tested hundreds of appliances to find some good options that use less water, but still work efficiently.
The average family of four runs through about 1,500 litres of water per day. Almost half of that water goes down the bathroom drain with the biggest culprit being the toilet.
New efficiency standards went into effect in 1995, and if your toilets are older than that, Consumer Reports says they really should be replaced.
Testers found many low-water toilets perform very well, including the St. Thomas Creations toilet for around $350. It needs just four litres of water per flush.
If you have an old showerhead, replace that, too. Many newer ones use two litres less per minute. Just look for the Water Sense label.
Your washing machine is responsible for about 20 percent of the water usage in your home. The worst machines that Consumer Reports has tested need more than 95 litres of water to do just one load. But there are some that use less than half that and do a terrific job cleaning, including the Maytag MHW5100DW for $1,200.
Consumer Reports also tested dishwashers for water efficiency. The appliances have improved so much that they use less water than washing your dishes by hand. Consider the Bosch 500 Series SHP65T55UC for $1,500. It uses just 19 litres per load.
Many of today’s dishwashers are so good at cleaning that testers advise not to waste water rinsing your dishes before you load them.
You are probably wasting a lot of water and don’t even realize it. Ten percent of the water that leaves the average home is from leaks. Consumer Reports recommends monitoring your water meter for two hours while everything is turned off. If the meter is moving, you’ve probably got leaks that are worth fixing. If you do find leaks, here are your next steps.
